BrdsNBz texting program helps combat high NM teen birth rate

The text-messaging service, BrdsNBz, allows teens, ages 13 to 19, to text NMTeen and parents to text NMParent to 66746 to opt-in. Then, they can text sexual health questions to the same number and receive medically accurate answers within 24 hours. (Photo courtesy of thinkstockphotos.com)

LAS CRUCES >> As the saying goes, it takes a village to raise a child, and when those children are the children of teenagers, it takes a village of taxpayers to help pick up the bill.

Teen childbearing in New Mexico cost taxpayers at least $103 million in 2010 — the latest numbers available — according to analysis from The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy. Overall, teen childbearing in the U.S. cost taxpayers $9.4 billion that year.

Most of the public costs of teen childbearing are associated with public health care, increased participation in child welfare and, among those children who become young adults, increased rates of incarceration and lost tax revenue due to decreased earnings and spending, according to the New Mexico Department of Health. Nationally and in New Mexico, birth rates for New Mexico Hispanic and American Indian teens are higher than other groups.

The most recent statistics for teen birth rate in New Mexico is 47.5 percent, or about 48 births to females in the 15 to 17 age group per 1,000 teens, the NMDOH reports.

That number is above the national average, said Heather Metcalf, educational project officer with the Family Planning Program at NMDOH.

"Since 2000, there has been a significant decline in the teen birth rate in New Mexico (43 percent decrease), which is great."

Metcalf said that the state's steady decrease is comparable to the national average decrease of about 48 percent, but there is still work to be done. Doña Ana County has been on par with the rest of the state in decreasing the teen birth rate, declining about 48.8 percent between 2008 and 2012.

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Between 2008 and 2012, Doña Ana County had a teen birth rate of almost 35 per 1,000.

"I think there's been an intensive focus on reducing teen pregnancy because it's closely linked to a lot of social and long-term health issues, and it costs tax payers quite a bit of money," Metcalf said. "We're trying to find new ways of connecting with teenagers."

Talking about BrdsNBz

One of those initiatives to connect with teens is reaching them on a level they understand, and teens today speak text messaging fluently.

Through the state program BrdsNBZ, the NMDOH hopes to hit that target texting audience.

In September 2013, New Mexico became only the second state in the country to make accurate sexual health information available to anyone with a cell phone statewide, according to a NMDOH news release.

The text messaging service allows teens, ages 13 to 19, to text "NMTeen" and parents to text "NMParent" to 66746 to opt-in to the service. Once in, they can text sexual health questions to the same number and receive medically accurate answers within 24 hours, according to the release.

Questions are submitted anonymously and the service is free, said Metcalf.

"You can ask any question you want related to family planning. It doesn't have to be about things like birth control," she said.

Questions can be about puberty, how to have a healthy relationship, sexual orientation and domestic violence, among others. Questions and answers can be given in English or Spanish, and scientific, evidence-based, accurate answers are given via text by health educators.

"This service is really unique in a way that we can reach teenagers and help to decrease the rates even more for teen pregnancy," Metcalf said. "It uses modern ways teens communicate."

Reluctant parents across the state are also encouraged to take advantage of the service to help bridge the communication gap with their teen on what can sometimes be an uncomfortable subject to discuss.

"Decreasing teen pregnancy rates can be done within homes and communities on a smaller scale," Metcalf said. "Parents and teens need to communicate. Teens want to hear from their parents and get information and know what their parents' values are on things like having sex and birth control. Just as it can be scary for teens, it can be daunting for parents who don't know how to approach their child about sex."

More prevention options

To combat some of the challenges taking root in the state and to help address the factors leading to high teen birth rates, the state also has the following programs in place:

The Teen Outreach Program reaches teens in sixth through 12th grade to help increase academic success by aiding with life skills on a number of different topics, including healthy relationships, communication, values clarification, examining influences, goal setting, decision making, sexual health and community service learning.

¡Cuídate! is a Hispanic culturally-based program reducing HIV risk among teens ages 13 to 18. ¡Cuídate! translates to "take care of yourself" and emphasizes sexual abstinence and correct condom use for reducing risk.

Another program is Raíces y Alas — roots and wings. It's an education workshop that works with the parents of teens. The skill-building program helps parents learn how to have more positive conversations with their teens about sex and sexual health.

•New Mexico was ranked 3 in the U.S. in final teen birth rates in ages 15 to 19.

•The number of births to women younger than 20 in New Mexico was 4,496, and 333,746 in the U.S.

•The teen birth rate (births per 1,000 females ages 15 to 19) in New Mexico was 48.8 compared to 31.1 in the U.S.

•Percent change in the teen birth rate from 1991 to 2010 was a 39 percent decrease in New Mexico and a 49 percent decrease in the U.S.

•Of all births to women younger than 20, the percentage by race/ethnicity in New Mexico was 15 percent white (39 percent in the U.S.); 1 percent black (24 percent in the U.S.); and 68 percent Hispanic (33 percent in the U.S.)

•Of all births to women younger than 20, the percentage outside of marriage in New Mexico was 87 percent, and 89 percent in the U.S.

— Office of Adolescent Health at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services